News

Leaders of local Chinese-Canadian community raise a record $4.1 million

Posted on 19/02/2019 9:00am

February 16, 2019 – VANCOUVER, BC: Tonight, leaders from B.C.’s Chinese-Canadian community came together to raise a record $4,126,888 at the 24th annual For Children We Care gala, presented by Peterson, in support of BC Children’s Hospital (BC Children’s). Close to 800 guests attended this spectacular, French Renaissance-inspired signature event.

This year’s gala raised funds for BC Children’s Sunny Hill Enhancement Initiative, which has a goal to raise $14 million to help create a state-of-the-art environment for Sunny Hill’s unique patient populations through highly innovative technology, purposeful artwork, specialized equipment, and enhanced spaces designed for patients and their families.

“We are deeply grateful for the leadership of the Chinese-Canadian community, whose tireless support over the past three decades has helped BC Children’s raise the standard of pediatric care in the province,” said Teri Nicholas, president and CEO of the BC Children’s Hospital Foundation. “Building on the momentum from last year’s gala, which raised an unprecedented $3.3 million, tonight’s event brings us even closer to our goal of transforming our vision for Sunny Hill into a reality.”“The night would not have been possible without the tireless work and commitment of our gala committee, led by our co-chairs Carmen Chan, Isabel Hsieh, and Pao Yao Koo. The committee’s passion for advancing healthcare for children set the tone for tonight’s success, and we can’t thank them enough,” adds Nicholas.

As the only children’s rehabilitation facility of its kind in the province, every year thousands of children and their families from 250 communities across BC come to Sunny Hill seeking assessments, diagnoses and rehabilitation for a wide range of conditions affecting their development. Sunny Hill is often the next step in the health care journey for children and their families once their acute medical issues are cared for at BC Children’s Hospital.

In May 2020, Sunny Hill will relocate from East Vancouver to the hospital campus on Oak Street, improving care and reducing the travel burden for families. The relocation will make BC Children’s Hospital one of the few pediatric sites in North America that will integrate an acute care facility, research institute, mental health facility and rehabilitation centre onto the same campus. The black-tie event was emceed by Global BC’s Paul Haysom and Phoenix TV’s Lisa Wu. Evening performers included the UBC Opera Ensemble, the Vancouver Metropolitan Orchestra led by award-winning Canadian conductor Kenneth Hsieh, and Gerphil Flores, second runner-up of the inaugural season of Asia’s Got Talent. The performances beautifully complemented the evening and evoked a French experience for gala guests.

About BC Children’s Hospital

BC Children’s Hospital is the only hospital in the province devoted exclusively to the care of children. As one of the few pediatric medical centres in North America with a world-class acute care centre, research institute, mental health facility and soon, rehabilitation centre all on one campus, we provide expert care for the sickest and most seriously injured kids. At BC Children’s Hospital Foundation, we have a vision that every child is healthy and able to fulfil their hopes and dreams. The generosity of donors fuels our ability to conquer childhood diseases, prevent illness and injury, and prioritize the unique needs of kids in every aspect of their care. Please follow us at @bcchf or visit us at bcchf.ca for more information.